2005.

Invisible footprints laid deep in crisp snow,
Snowflakes hung still in the air,
The pitch of night was thick and no sound could be heard,
How they longed for his return,
It could never be the same again,

Silent footsteps crept through the house,
They stopped at the tree and the presents underneath,
A silent sigh that no-one could hear,
He crept up the stairs and into the first room,
There he spied a tiny child, a little boy, HIS little boy,
So peacefully sleeping, not stirring an inch, desperate for morning and all it would bring,
He smiled and patted the child’s head, tucked him further into his soft warm bed,

He travelled a little further, along the small hall,
To his granddaughters bedroom, where he found her, so grown up and yet still just a child,
Stroking her hair, he whispered ‘do not fear. I shall never leave you, I remain forever here’
Her touched her heart as he stood to walk away, next to come across his daughter.

The gentle sighs of her sleeping form made him weep for a second, before he regained his calm,
For Christmas is not a time for tears and sadness, but loving and peace and joy and thankfulness.
He took her hand in his, and gently stroked its palm,

Dawn was swiftly approaching, it was time for him to leave,
He put on his cap, his coat and his scarf, took up his pipe and swept through the door.
Leaving nothing but kindness, compassion and love, along with his memories, strength and his watch from above.

And as they awoke the robins began to sing,
The smell of an angel, they knew he had come,
Though he was gone, they knew he would never leave them,
For love is stronger that death,
Especially, at Christmas time.